Victory!

by Robert J. Romano

November 4th, 2004

*Updated November 5th

In an historic victory for the President and Republicans in Congress, a sweeping mandate has been achieved for the policies of the President's administration.  Majorities have been earned in both the electoral college and popular votes (286 electoral votes to 252, 59,459,765, or 51% to 55,949,407, or 48%)*.  More people voted in this election than ever, and more people than not wanted President Bush to serve four more years.  Four seats have been picked up in the U.S. Senate, and one in the House, an historic achievement that has not been accomplished by a President winning re-election since 1936.  Much has been accomplished in ensuring security by spreading freedom around the world, in growing our economy by reducing the cost of doing business in America, in working to ease the burden on senior citizens by enacting a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and medical savings accounts, in improving standards nationwide through education reform, in improving our safety by reforming the Federal Government and modernizing the homeland defense through creation of the Department of Homeland Security, passing the Patriot Act, and hunting, capturing, and killing terrorists who mean our people harm.  Over 75% of Al Qaeda's known leadership has been captured or killed.  Saddam Hussein, a known sponsor of terrorists, maker and user of poison weapons, chemical and biological agents, and known to have developed nuclear capabilities, is no longer in power.  The mass graves will never be filled again, and the Iraqi people's nightmare is over.  The people of Afghanistan have just elected their first president, Hamid Karzai, in a ringing endorsement of democracy and freedom in a country that once suffered under the illegitimate Taliban, the harborers of al Qaeda.  Because we acted, there are two less state sponsors of terrorism, and America's two newest allies in the war on terrorism.  

        The reasons Senator John Kerry and the Democrats were handed defeat are two-fold.  They thought they could successfully separate the war on terrorism from the theatre in Iraq.  They failed.  Not even the Iraqi people believe that.  Quite the contrary.  Prime Minister Iyad Allawi believes that Iraq is one of the central fronts in the overall war on terror.  Because of his and many other brave Iraqis' courage, that country is changing from one of the world's worst dictatorships to a developing hopeful democracy.  A majority of Americans agree with President Bush on this issue, and agree that he is better suited to winning this global struggle.  We have stayed the course, and through our actions of participating in choosing our representatives, have endorsed our way of life and what we are doing to protect it.  The actions to remove Saddam Hussein from power are an historic achievement, and he is now facing charges as he will be put on trial for crimes against Iraq.  The terrorist insurgents' days are numbered in that nation, and by far a huge majority of Iraqis are peaceful and trying to build their futures.  Iraq is in full recovery, and the world is safer without the dictator in power.  In January, there will be free elections for the first time.  

         Secondly, the Democrats divided the country with too many differences on the security issue when they could have been talking about other areas where they are stronger with the American people.  By vowing never to "cede" the security issue to Republicans, the Democrats missed opportunities to talk about their traditional base issues of support: social benefits, healthcare, education, the economy, and the environment.  The wiser path appeared (to me) to be for the Democrats to essentially support our foreign and domestic security strategies, and in doing so, unite the nation at a time of war.  I believe the Democrats would have persuaded more so-called swing voters if they had remained strong with support of the theatre of war in Iraq, and overall in the global war on terrorism.  Instead, by creating division in their own party and also in America on the [issue of] security, I believe they sowed the seeds for their own defeat.  In many ways, the election was as much a vote against the division promoted by the Democrats as it was a vote for the Republican President's policies.  By losing seats in Congress as well as the Presidency, it is clear that now the President has a clear mandate to move forward with his vision for America, and that the Democrats will remain a minority party for some time to come, perhaps even years.

        President Vladimir Putin has stated that the President's victory proves to the world that America is not afraid of terrorism.  I couldn't agree more.  I believe it also proves that a majority of Americans are committed to eliminating terrorism across the globe.  I hope that the President will take the opportunity to solidify and expand our coalition in the global war on terrorism, and continue to work with our friends and allies to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as we try to stop them from getting into the wrong hands.  I hope that not only America, but the world entire, will rise up to defeat terror, and expand freedom and democracy around the world.  A world of free nations will be a world at peace.  We understand that we are in this for a long slog, and it will not be realistic to expect victory in the war via a traditional peace treaty.  The very nature of the terrorists demands that there cannot be negotiations.  That is why it is incumbent, as the world looks upon the outcome of the American elections, to once again assess whether or not they are with the terrorists or with us.

        To briefly touch on the divisions of our own country, now that the elections are over, and it is clear that the Republicans have made gains in Congress, it is important for our elected leadership to work together to move those issues which moved the people to the polls on Tuesday.  We expect to see real Social Security reform.  We expect for the tax cuts to be made permanent so as to encourage long-term investment in our economy and jobs.  We expect to see medical liability reform, which in truth is really healthcare reform, because passing meaningful tort reform will bring down the costs of healthcare.  We expect that as Iraq moves towards elections, and as Afghanistan continues to rebuild, that Democrats and Republicans can come together in ensuring unity on the foreign policy issues which challenge the free world.  It is incumbent upon America to be a strong leader and proponent for freedom and peace in the world, and that is why we must continue to meet the challenges which confront us today.  Moving forward with the war on terror, hunting down these killers, and working with states globally to bring the enemy to justice is a common goal that we all share.  Both candidates for president agreed on the need to fight the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and one thing that we do know is that we will be the most successful when there is unanimity.  

        America has sent a clear message to our leadership in Washington, and has also sent a bold signal to the whole world, that we will not be intimidated by the hateful, murderous ideology which we confront and seek to defeat.  Gone are the days where America will not act in kind against those who have repeatedly attacked us, our friends and allies, and our overall interests and values.  Gone are the days when America would encourage freedom and democracy in some areas of the world, but not others.  Gone are the days where our wherewithal to defeat terrorism would be in question.  Because of the leadership of President Bush over the past four years, and the leadership which we expect for the next four years, the American people have handed him a mandate, and expect that beyond the Great Election of 2004, we will work as hard as is practicable in the war on terror and tyranny to ensure victory.